Art

Stratford artists create mini art works to support Gallery Stratford through COVID-19 shutdown – The Beacon Herald

Published

5 years ago

April 19, 2020

Gallery Stratford has launched its Little ART Things online art auction to raise money during the gallery’s COVID-19 shutdown.

To raise much-needed funds following the cancellation of the gallery’s annual fundraisers and educational programming — a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — Gallery Stratford is auctioning off 3X3 paintings and art works created by artists in the community as part of its online fundraiser, Little Art Things. Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald/Postmedia Network

Roughly two dozen amateur and professional artists from Stratford and beyond have been busy recently creating more than 360 miniature works of art to support Gallery Stratford through its Little ART Things online art-auction fundraiser.

Following the cancellation of Gallery Stratford’s annual gala fundraiser and its educational programming — which together account for about 50 per cent of the organization’s annual revenue — when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, gallery director and curator Angela Brayham and the gallery’s board of trustees began looking for ways to recoup at least some of that lost funding.

“Cancelling those two things is not an easy decision to make. It’s a really tough thing because it impacts everything we do,” Brayham said. “… In planning for our gala, what we were going to do is we’d had a group of women, who are our painting drop-ins, making these little three-by-three canvases that we were going to use as part of a raffle thing at the gala.

“I had a about 100 of them and them and I was thinking, ‘They’re really lovely. What should I do with them?’”

So Brayham began photographing the little works of art she had on hand and posted them online in hopes she could raise some money by auctioning them off.

Gallery Stratford director and curator Angela Brayham organizes the 3X3 paintings that have been sold through the gallery’s Little ART Things online art auction for delivery. Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald/Postmedia Network

“I had no idea what to call it, so I just thought, ‘Little ART Things,’” Brayham laughed.

The Little ART Things auction quickly gained traction, both among art lovers and artists in the community and beyond.

“Other people started volunteering to do them,” Brayham said. “We now have 364 of them and we have probably close to two-dozen artists who have contributed so far.”

The artists who have contributed to the online auction fundraiser range from kids who created their pieces as part of art classes at the gallery prior to the pandemic all the way to well-established artists like the Toronto-based artist, Ron Shuebrook, who exhibited at the gallery in Stratford a couple years ago.

“Artists in our community at the hobbyist level to people that are selling professionally and have taught for us have all contributed,” Brayham said. “… Because the artists are in their home and there’s only so much bread you can bake and you can only watch so much Netflix, a number of the artists have told me that it’s given them something to feel productive about.”

Each of the pieces up for auction at event.auctria.com are listed with a starting bid of $10, as well as an option to “buy it now” for $25. As a twist, the artists who created each piece won’t be revealed until after their work has been sold.

“We did that so people aren’t just buying them by the name,” Brayham said. “We want people to buy work that they like so everything is kind of equal. You don’t know if you’re buying work by an eight-year-old or if you’re buying work from somebody who sells their work for thousands of dollars. I mean you can kind of tell, but not always.”

With the gallery closed, Brayham is delivering the pieces purchased by locals herself, and charging $2.50 for delivery outside of Stratford. The gallery will contact successful bidders directly to arrange payment. Successful bidders can also call the gallery at 519-271-5271x 222 or email abrayham@gallerystratford.on.ca.

gsimmons@postmedia.com

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

4 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

Source link

Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

1 month ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.